What are the best sources of omega-3 for athletes?
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two molecules responsible for the activities attributed to Omega-3, such as reducing post-exercise inflammation. In theory, they can be obtained from their precursor, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the Omega-3 abundant in 'terrestrial' plant sources like walnuts, flax seeds, and derived oils. Unfortunately, the human body is not an efficient producer of EPA and DHA: the amount of ALA converted into DHA is less than 1% in men and only slightly higher in women; and even the conversion efficiency of ALA into EPA is not satisfactory.